New Zealand Cinema

New Zealand’s diverse and dramatic landscapes are a major drawcard for filmmakers, including the country’s own Peter Jackson, who filmed both the billion-dollar box office hits The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies entirely in New Zealand.

New Zealand was also the inspiration for the computer-generated world of Avatar. Many distinctly New Zealand stories have been told on film: Whale Rider is a haunting tale of Maori culture and myth, while The World’s Fastest Indian tells the story of Southland motorcycle legend Burt Munro. Taika Waititi’s short film Two Cars, One Night and feature film Boy have shown in competition at Cannes and Sundance respectively. To enjoy Kiwi cinema, you can go on a LOTR tour.